GAYLETTER

Queer people have a contoured approach to normalcy because our history is wrapped up in nightlife; clubs/bars have been a community building structure for ages, discreet or not. Queers have always gathered in back rooms to dance, sing, look fierce and enjoy themselves. When house music starting bursting out of Chicago and Detroit, queers, and more specifically POC, supported, enjoyed and helped tone the genre's pathway to mainstream(ish) success. Somewhere the queer and the non-white history of house and dance culture got mixed up. Groundbreaking! But Gardens battles that erasure and celebrates the queer and intersectional narratives of house music. After a successful first go at Bushwick’s El Cortez, Jordan Alper and Julia Pradhan (who started the party) told me they wanted to make sure there was a dance space in New York where queers could feel 100% accepted and still enjoy quality house sets. Most queer nights have the music raging, but it’s not always the best quality and the crowd definitely isn’t chatting about the DJ in between doing their poppers. Saturday night marks the first Gardens in both rooms at the sprawling go-to party warehouse Elsewhere. The Hall is huge with lasers, strobes and a top-notch sound-design (you can actually chat at the bar in back!). Zone One is the intimate, darker, low ceiling sister-hall that feels like a sultry dungeon. On the bill this weekend is DJ Heather, Cinthie, MikeQ & Papi Juice’s Oscar Nñ. Plus some of the best Brooklyn queens partying right now: Zenobia, West Dakota, Harajuku, Panthera and Ruby Fox. 3rd tier ticket prices are steep! But, since Jordan knows GAYLETTER has some of the most fierce queer readers around, use our code GAYLETTER for a $10 ticket! Say hi when you see me ordering a whiskey!  —Chris Stewart

“It’s the dawn of a new age of Asian Dominance, caucasian slaves, non gender binaries, and Melanin Opulence!” Despite what you are thinking, Gia Gunn actually didn’t write that, it was the organizers of this party. She did, however, bring Drag Race some of the best Asian one-liners the show has ever seen: “Just got off the boat, you know, a little trip from Asia.” It’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that Asian queens slay, unless you’re thinking of Kimora Black, but over the last year a handful of queer-Asian centric parties have popped up across Manhattan and Brooklyn providing a space for queer-Asians to mingle, get drunk, carry, slay and of course, do fucking drag. Off the curtails of spaces curated by the promoters behind BUBBLE_T, Onegaishimasu is a new queer Asian-Pacific Islander party “showcasing the beauty and vibrant richness of the community, and those with MELANIN all over NYC.” Their hosting a swimsuit fashion show based on those queens who are “C.U.N.T.” but the flyer also says come in your best “S&M looks,” so… I guess pack a bag if you want to compete. She’s a two look party! Hosted by iconic asians like everyone’s favorite Massive Goods, plus a bunch of other really sexy people I’ve never heard of before like Henry Bae, David Chan, E.T. Chong, Paulie Wog and The Henry who is one of my fave go-gos in New York. Onegaishimasu actually means “Please.” I like that because “Please” can be inserted into many sentences: Please fuck me, Please go away, Please stop talking, Please blow my back out, bitch, Please! I’m sure you’ll think of some other campy things to say when you’re there.  —Chris Stewart

I was in a friend’s basement when David Bowie died and had just woken up from a nap. I was still stoned, so when I got the CNN notification that Bowie had passed, I think I stood in place for three minutes just staring at my phone. I finally came to and shouted, “I need to go home.” I grew up idolizing Bowie; my mother took to calling me the Thin White Duke at a very young age (which I later learned was deeply inappropriate). On the second anniversary of his death, Brooklyn Bazaar is hosting a very special dance party in honor of Bowie. Showing off his range of funk, new wave, jazz and classic rock, there will be three rooms to blast the late stars legendary tracks. From Let’s Dance to Ashes to Ashes, Bowie’s tireless efforts to chameleon his image has provided queer culture with a plethora of references and general pejorative of what’s hot and what’s not. He is a king to be celebrated, a saint to be remembered and an icon that culture will continue to pull from for many years. I love you David! Dress code is wear what the fuck you think David would approve of: red shoes, face paint, jumpsuits, chic hats… enjoy, you pretty things!  —Chris Stewart

Going out on New Years Eve is kind of like going out on Halloween, it’s often a hot mess and a real pain in the butt. True nightlife people don’t need a special night to dress up and celebrate, every party is NYE to us. Which is why we suggest you chill on NYE and get lit this Friday (September 29th) at Ladyfag’s Versus party. We ran into Lady a week ago at the one night only return of 11:11. She told us that Versus is a true rave in a massive warehouse space. If you’ve ever been to any of her other warehouse parties you’ll know what to expect: thousands of party kids, lots of boys, an incredible sound system and an eye watering light show as far as you can see. Music for the night is provided by: Helena Hauff (PAN/ Hamburg), Danny Daze (Omnidisc), Fatherhood (Physical Therapy & Michael Magnan), and Bearcat (Discwoman). “It’s the beginning of the end of 2017, and the future draws nigh. It’s man VERSUS machine...Can virtual roses ever smell as sweet?” From what we heard from Ladyfag the space is gonna be amazing: “inside in the freshly built Avant Gardner venue in Bushwick... so expect an OTT Visual Rave Explosion!” We have a very special offer exclusively for GAYLETTER readers, 20% off by clicking this link, yeah click here mama.

I’m probably not the only homo who, upon walking into any public place playing Christmas music, tries to bewitch the radio station into playing Last Christmas by Wham. Much to my delight, it actually worked once or twice this season! If I’m shopping for holiday needs, be it food or gifts, I just want George Michael to be caressing my ears. This year, Christmas day marked the one year anniversary of his death and my Instagram feed was clogged with photos of the late icon. It is quite fitting that Mattachine (another type of icon) used a portrait of George to advertise their holiday party at Julius. It’s the only reason I clicked on the event posting before we decided it made sense for this week’s newsletter. I guess it’s common that people celebrate Christmas even after the holiday has past. Is it because we don’t know what to do with seven days we’re give before New Years Eve? I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s a bit weird to have to go back to work for four days and then just leave for another holiday weekend. America needs to adapt a better policy and just close down for the week. This is stupid. That said, you can still find plenty of parties to go to in the intermediary time, including this Holiday installment of Mattachine. The party will offer all of the best tunes of “queer yesteryear” and a special performance at midnight. I’m hoping it’s some kind of elf on the shelf meets voyuer in a porn type situation? I don’t know, I’m just speculating. Oh, almost forgot to mention, it’s an ugly sweater party! So you can bring your dad if he’s interested in learning more about how normal us gays are. He’ll fit right in!  —Chris Stewart

I got a good laugh when I saw Ladyfag post the flyer for her 11:11 Holiday Reunion Special. For those who don’t know (maybe you’re a new gay), 11:11 was Ladyfag’s weekly Friday night gig on the Lower East Side that ushered some of nightlife’s now most-famous faces through it’s doors. Honey Dijon was resident DJ for a while, Sussi used to host before she moved to London to work Gucci parties, and everyone’s favorite flawless queens Aquaria and Amanda Lepore kept the haunt in their party repertoire up until the party’s very end. In the spring we heard 11:11 was no more, which was sad but also forgivable, considering summer was starting and all of the outdoor functions were taking off. I’ve mouthed off to a few people at this party and rolled my eyes at a model I booked for forgetting my name. What am I saying here? The party is ego-friendly and ego-encouraged. Ladyfag brings out the most camp people the world has yet to see. Getting photographed by GAYLETTER at a Ladyfag party is honestly a riddle for fucking success. Head to our party library on the .com to see some of the parties past, and take a gander at the models and industry insiders you’ll be boozing and bumping with. For the reunion special, Lady has booked some of the party’s favorite DJs from seasons past, including Christy Love and Michael Magnan (who started the party with her). As for your hosts, the gangs back in town. Expect to see La’Fem LaDosha (shout out to her work at the New Museum), Stephanie Stone, the polished as hell Ryan Burke, everyone’s favorite punk-rock priestess Harry Charlesworth, plus the legend herself, Amanda Lepore. Bring your wallets, the bar is pricey!  —Chris Stewart

Do you remember Gia Gunn’s entrance in season 6 of RuPaul’s Drag Race? If you don’t, you gotta do your Drag Race homework. It’s one of my favorite entrances ever — “Just got off the boat, you know, little trip from Asia, just landed like fresh tilapia.” — while throwing her X-Large Hula Hoop Runway Chanel Spring/Summer 2013 bag on the worktable. I still don’t know whether it was a good fake or the real bag, but it doesn’t matter. Gia has contributed to the world some of the best quotes in Drag Race herstory, here are a few: “Gia’s a fishy girl, she’s C.C.C.: Crazy, cuckoo, cunt!,” “I’m feeling my oats, let me feel my ooooooooats!” If you are a fan of Gia here’s your chance to see her perform live. The party also features a group of Straight Acting regulars and special performances including Rify Royalty, Dusty Ray Bottoms, Vic Sin, Queen Robert, Shitanya Fayce and more. Lets just end this post with another Gia Gunn quote: “Feelin’ like pussy, feelin’ like cunt!” Let's say it one more time: “Feelin’ like pussy, feelin’ like cunt!”  —Abi